Chris Gatling scored 24 points in a rare starting role and Kerry
Kittles had 11 over the final six minutes to fuel the decisive
run as the New Jersey Nets snapped a seven-game losing streak
with a 108-93 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.

New Jersey, which trailed 86-85 after Cedric Ceballos' follow
lay-in with 6:13 left, used a 10-0 run to end its season-high
skid. Kittles, who finished with 20 points, ignited the surge
with a 10-footer and added three free throws as the Nets closed
the game with a 23-7 burst.

Gatling, starting at forward for the injured Keith Van Horn, had
15 points in the second half as the Nets salvaged the finale of
their three-game Texas swing.

"It's good to get the monkey off our backs now," Gatling said.
"We played well as a team. Even though we're shorthanded with
injuries, we still stepped up and executed and did what we had
to do down the stretch. It was a team effort and everybody did
their part."

Finley scored 18 points and Ceballos 16 for the Mavericks, who
have lost three of their last four games. The only win in that
stretch came in overtime against the defending champion Chicago
Bulls on Thursday.

"This game became so vital, it was almost out of proportion to
what it should have been," said Nets coach John Calipari, whose
team remained tied with Washington for the final playoff spot in
the Eastern Conference. "It's nice to get back into the win
column, it's been a long time. We're a little beat up and tired
right now."

Dallas hit 49 percent (41-of-83) of its shots and held a 49-32
rebounding edge, but was done in by turnovers. The Mavs
committed 23 miscues that were turned into 30 points by the
Nets, who committed just 12 for nine Dallas points.

Former Net Shawn Bradley had 14 points and nine rebounds to lead
a sizeable bench contribution for the Mavericks. Hubert Davis
added 12 points and Martin Muursepp contributed six and a
team-high 12 rebounds.

Ceballos netted 10 points and Finley and Chris Anstey chipped in
with eight apiece to pace Dallas to a 48-47 halftime edge.
Gatling answered with 10 points as the teams fought to a 72-72
tie after three quarters.

Dallas took the early lead in the fourth period, going ahead
80-76 on A.C. Green's basket with 9:54 to play. The Nets
responded quickly to forge an 82-82 deadlock with nine minutes
left.

"We had the momentum through the third period," Finley said.
"But they knocked down some shots and made some defensive stops,
and that shifted the momentum. To come out and beat a team like
Chicago and then come out and play like we did tonight was
unbearable to watch or even be a part of."

The game's 23rd and final lead change came at 5:49 on Kittles'
10-footer. He followed with two free throws, Gatling converted
a three-point play and Kittles added a technical foul shot
before Michael Cage's layup gave New Jersey a 95-86 advantage.

Finley snapped Dallas' 2:51 scoreless streak with a pull-up
jumper but Kittles drained a three-pointer from the top of the
key to give the Nets a double-digit lead with 2:54 to go.

The Mavs were hurt by poor free throw shooting and the inability
to hit from long range. Dallas went just 10-of-21 from the line
and missed seven of eight shots from beyond the arc.

New Jersey, shorthanded due to Van Horn's broken toe and
injuries to Jayson Williams and Rony Seikaly, swept both games
from the Mavericks this season.